Houston Home Security System Tips

It’s spring, and while a young man’s fancy may turn to thoughts of love, those with a larcenous bent turn their thoughts to something a bit less fanciful. According to the Houston crime map and related statistics, you can expect burglary and home break-ins to accelerate during the spring and summer months each year. In fact, the April stats for burglary increased to an alarming 1,201 break-ins, an increase of more than 4 percent over March’s 950 incidents. Theft and robbery stats showed a similar increase in month-to-month stats, emphasizing the importance of installing and using a Houston home security system to protect your home and family from loss.

Statistics show that homes without a home security system or burglar alarm are far more likely to be targeted by thieves than those with installed home security systems. The most important tip for securing your home is to find a Houston home security firm and have a burglar alarm installed. Don’t just go for any burglar system, either – many people are so inured to the sirens of car and home alarm systems that they typically ignore them. Instead, invest in a home security system that’s monitored or connected to a central station to ensure that someone responds if there’s a break-in at your property.

If you’re moving into a home with an existing alarm system, contact the installer and alarm monitoring provider to switch the service to your name, and to discuss upgrade possibilities. The home security system industry has made incredible advances in technology over the past few years, and any alarm system installed more than two to three years ago may not offer the protections that your family needs. Most notably, with so many people opting for VoIP and cell phones instead of traditional telephone systems, you’ll need to be sure that your home security system is compatible with your choice of phone system. You should also inquire about new services available through smart phone apps that will allow you to arm and disarm your security system remotely, change key codes on the fly and monitor those that enter and leave your property when you’re not home.

Make sure that your security system is comprehensive. It should encompass all windows and doors that are accessible to burglars. Your security plan should also look beyond alarms and alarm monitoring to other security-conscious choices. For example, install motion-sensitive lights on your property to illuminate any dark corners whenever someone approaches them. In many cases, the mere presence of a security light will scare burglars away.

High-end alarm systems include individual window alarms activated by vibration, panic buttons to alert authorities in case of a home invasion and motion sensors in rooms to detect intruders once they’ve penetrated your home’s perimeter.

If you have no burglar alarm or if your home security system is more than a few years old, contact a top-notch Houston home security company to learn about the upgrades available today.

Home security is a subject on many minds these days. Long gone are the days when you could safely leave your doors unlocked while you ran to the store. Today, intruders often invade your home even when you’re there. In Houston, home security experts say that the burglary rate is climbing in many communities even as violent crime drops. Installing a home security system is the most positive way to protect your home from invaders and burglars, but there are other things you can – and should – do to keep your home safer, whether or not your also employ a home security system. These tips, from a Houston home security expert, will help make your home less attractive to intruders.

Locks for Home Security

Install heavy duty deadbolt locks on all entry doors. Deadbolt locks with strike plates installed in the door jamb make it nearly impossible for burglars to force the door open.

If you have door lights – windows in or beside the door – make sure that they are made of unbreakable glass, or that locks are not within reach of the window.

Replace the standard window locks with more secure locks that can’t be manipulated from outside. If you have first floor windows or windows that are accessible from patios or landings, install window bars or grates to prevent anyone from entering through them.

Don’t sabotage yourself by leaving a key outside your house “in case you get locked out.” Burglars know all the handy hiding places and will easily find a key left in a flowerpot, under a mat or hung inside a mailbox. If it looks like a good hiding place to you, you can bet that a burglar will have the same thought. Instead, leave a spare key with a neighbor who is usually home.

Locks are only good if you remember to lock them all when you leave. Make it part of your routine to check and lock all the windows and doors whenever you leave the house – including the door from the garage to the house. Many homeowners count on the garage door to keep intruders out of their homes and fall prey to a burglar with an automatic garage opener.

Lighting for Safety and Home Security

Locks will keep intruders out. Lights can keep them from even attempting to get in. Put lights at all of your entries so that there’s no shadow for burglars to hide in while they attempt to break in. Make sure that the paths and approaches to your home are well-lighted and can be seen from your windows and, if possible, from neighbors’ homes.

Put your lights on a timer, both indoors and out. Choose a timer that allows you to set variable times, or use a switch that’s activated by light so that your lights turn on when it gets dark. That avoids the rigid time schedule that’s a signal to burglars that the homeowner is away.

In addition to these basic home security measures, consider installing a comprehensive home security system to protect your home and your family from intruders.

Home Security Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

The purpose of any home security system is to keep your family and your property safe. Whether you choose a full-featured monitored home alarm system or a simple burglar alarm, though, there are other steps you can and should take to ensure your family’s safety. These tips from law enforcement professionals will make sure that you and your family are doing everything you can to take advantage of your home security system.

Replace Hollow-Core Doors with Solid Doors

Hollow core doors are inexpensive, but they’re easy to break through. Likewise, inexpensive paneled doors, even those marketed as exterior doors, may not be thick enough to deter a break-in. Choose 1- to 2-inch thick solid hardwood doors, and make sure that any glass sidelights are unbreakable safety glass.

Install High-Quality Locks

While an alarm system may alert you or the authorities that a burglar has attempted to break into your home, but it can’t keep thieves out. Evaluate the locks on all of your exterior doors, including the door leading into your house from the garage. If necessary, replace them with heavy-duty deadbolt locks and install a heavy duty strike plate in the door frame to prevent your door from being kicked in.

Clear Away Obstructions That May Hide Intruders

Keep foundation plants trimmed below window level so that they don’t provide a hiding place for thieves attempting to break in through a window. If you have a secluded entrance, consider installing a home security system with a camera trained on that door, or a motion-sensitive light and alarm that will alert you if an intruder attempts to get in through that door.

Always Lock Your Doors and Windows

The best locks in the world are useless if you forget to lock them. Lock your doors even if you’re home, especially if you’re in the back yard, upstairs or in the back of the house. Likewise, always arm your security system, even if you’re on the property, and teach your entire family to do the same.

Choose the Right Home Security System

A home alarm system can be an important part of your home security, but it’s only one part. When deciding on the best security system for your home, consider all of your family’s needs. Today’s systems include locks with remote key access and monitoring, monitored home alarms and personal alarms. Most Houston home alarm companies will work with you to customize your security package to best suit your family. For information about all the options available in home security packages today, schedule an appointment with a Houston home security specialist.

Houston Home Security Options for Apartment Dwellers

Living in an apartment shouldn’t relegate you to second class home security systems. Apartment dwellers often leave the task of providing security for their possessions and loved ones to the owners of their buildings. That can be a big mistake. While your apartment building may have decent front door security, more often than not, it’s easily defeated by pressing doorbells until someone presses the catch release and unknowingly lets a burglar in. Once inside the building, multi-family dwellings offer very little in the way of a home security system. Houston police estimate that a large percentage of burglaries and home invasions take place in apartment buildings for exactly that reason. If you’re one of the many H-Town residents who lives in an apartment in Houston, home security is your responsibility as well as your landlords.

An apartment home security system will usually cost you considerably less than a security system for a detached home for one simple reason—there are nearly always fewer entry points to protect. If you’re considering installing a home alarm for your apartment, keep these tips in mind to help you choose the right home alarm system.

Install alarms on all entry points in your apartment. That includes your front entrance door, patio door or back door and any window, even those that are sealed shut.

Consider a wireless alarm system that doesn’t require any damage or alterations to your apartment. Your landlord will have far less reason to object to a wireless system that can be installed with no holes or other alterations to his property.

Keep your neighbors in mind when choosing between alarm systems. Generally, a loud perimeter alarm system is poor etiquette, especially if you’re prone to accidentally setting the alarm off yourself. Your neighbors wont’ thank you for waking them up at 2 AM when you’re sneaking in from a night on the town. Instead, consider a monitored alarm system that alerts someone at a remote location rather than sounding on the property.

Motion sensor alarm systems are especially effective for apartments, because there is so much less square footage to cover. Many apartment security systems also include fire and smoke alarms so you’re doubly protected.

If you’re living in an apartment, take security into your own hands. Contact a Houston home security specialist and ask for their recommendations on protecting your property. You’ll sleep better knowing that your home is protected.

Five Surprising Benefits of Home Security Systems

Everyone knows that installing a home alarm system reduces the chances of a burglar breaking into your home and making off with the family silver – or your new flat-screen television. But what you may not know, is that home security systems provide other benefits for your family as well.

Cut Your Insurance Premiums

Many insurance companies offer lower premiums and discounts to homeowners who invest in protecting their properties. Check with your insurance agent to find out how much you could save by installing a burglar alarm, monitored alarm system or a full-fledged Honeywell security system. Depending on the options you choose, you could save a considerable amount of money.

Stop Waiting for the Cable Guy

The latest home alarm systems do far more than protecting your home from intruders. They actually allow you to control access to your home from afar, often controlled by an app on your iPhone or a Smartphone. With a smart security system installed, you can program a one-time-use lock code so that a repairman can let himself into your home so you don’t have to wait there to let him in. Changing the locks was never this easy before.

Program Your Locks to Phone You When Your Kids Get Home

Kids are forgetful. They know they’re supposed to let you know they got home safely, but how many afternoons have you sat there waiting and worrying? With the right key/alarm system, you can program your lock with a separate key code for each of your family members, and set it up to phone you when each of your children uses his key code to get into the house.

Monitor Your Home Remotely

With an alarm system that includes video monitoring, you can check in on your home from work or anywhere else you can access the Internet. That allows you to keep an eye on pets and nannies, or just check in to see what’s going on if you’re notified that your home alarm has been activated.

Allow Your Parents to Maintain Independence

Many older adults end up in nursing homes or assisted living units because their children worry about falls and accidents. A home alarm system with a personal alarm can set their minds to rest, secure in the knowledge that if mom or dad falls at home, they can call for help.

If you’ve been considering an upgrade or a new alarm system for your home, talk to a licensed installer of home security systems to find out about the latest advantages in alarm and security technology.

Tips for More Effective Home Security Systems

Any police department will tell you that home security systems help protect your property from intrusion and theft. Following some common sense advice when choosing an alarm system, an alarm monitoring company or a home security system installer can make your premises even more secure.

Don’t Count on Fake Security Signs

Real burglars know the difference. Generally, home alarm companies only allow actual customers to display their “Protected by” emblems. Any burglar operating in Houston, for example, would be familiar with all Houston home security companies and wouldn’t be fooled by a fake sign.

Contract With a Licensed Burglar Alarm Vendor to Have Your System Installed

In Houston, your alarm system must be installed by a licensed company or vendor who must register your new security system with the city. Working with a licensed installer protects you in case problems arise. Among other things, most localities require that licensed alarm installation companies cover insurance that will cover any losses resulting from a company or installer error.

Invest In A Monitored Alarm System For Better Security Coverage

An alarm that only sounds in your neighborhood if someone breaks in is only as good as your neighbors. If you live in an area where most of your neighbors are at work during the day or where your neighbors might not notify the police if your alarm sounds, it won’t do much good to protect your home. An alarm system that alerts a monitoring company or calls you to let you know that your alarm is going off is much more effective.

Make Sure Your Phone Or Cable Lines Are Safe

If your alarm system relies on your phone or cable lines, be sure that the lines are shielded from being cut or otherwise damaged. If your alarm system monitoring fails because the wires were disconnected, they can’t alert anyone that there’s a break-in.

Use Common Sense in Deciding on Perimeter Protection

Alarmed doors and windows provide “perimeter protection,” which is an alarm that sounds when someone gets into your house. Alarming every window can be expensive, so use your common sense. If your windows are easily accessible, you might benefit from glass-break protection. A combination of window locks, window bars and door alarms may be a more economical solution.

Choosing a company that’s experienced with many different home security systems offers many benefits, not the least of which is that they know the advantages and disadvantages of the various security types. If you’re considering a home alarm system for your residence, contact a licensed alarm vendor and get the benefit of the company’s experience.

Choosing a Home Security System for Your Home

While violent crimes have dropped in the Houston area over the past few years, home break-ins and burglaries keep rising at alarming rates. The best way to protect yourself and your family is with a home security system. Houston police and security experts offer the following tips and information to help you choose the right home security system or home alarm system for your home.

1. Make your home less attractive as a target. Home security systems can’t do it alone. Make your home a less attractive target by trimming overhanging bushes and eliminating blind spots where intruders could hide out of sight as they try to break in.

2. An alarm system monitoring service will alert you if an intruder enters your home while you’re at home. The simplest home alarm systems sound an alarm if someone breaks a circuit while the alarm is armed. They’ll let you know if someone breaks in so that you can alert the authorities or take other actions to protect yourself and your family. Louder systems may also alert your neighbors if you have any living close by. They can be useful during the day to scare intruders off and to alert neighbors that there’s a problem at your house.

3. Remote alarm systems notify police or emergency services if the alarm is tripped. The next step up the ladder are home security systems that automatically dial a specified number or series of numbers if your burglar alarm is tripped. The number may be an automatic phone dialing system that alerts police, fire department and emergency medical services and dispatches them to your home.

4. Monitored alarm systems provide personal coverage. Some Houston home security companies offer alarm systems monitored by real people. If the alarm is tripped, it notifies human monitors at the home office of the alarm monitoring company. Depending on the system, the company may try to reach you by telephone or may be able to turn on video or audio monitoring to check your situation before alerting authorities that you need help.

5. The most elaborate home security systems combine personal monitoring with wireless services. The newest home alarm systems are complete home access systems. You can wirelessly change the locks on your front doors so that you can issue a one-use key code to a plumber or repair person, or set your alarm system to notify you if your teenager doesn’t check in after school. Alarm monitoring services can help seniors remain in their homes by providing personal monitoring and alerting authorities in case of a fall or other emergency.